blueeyedgirl
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
Photos, she must have some doozies..... 
Oh Jeez This Lady Again / Lola Cashman
- Thread starter asr
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Lari
The Fly
The end of Lola Cashman
From independent.ie
How Lola has survived after battle with U2
The band's former stylist says that she was 'left with nothing' after losing the court case, writes Niamh Horan
Sunday January 25 2009
It's hard to know what to make of Lola Cashman. In one breath the woman- who took on the might of U2 can leap from shy guardian of her principles to spouting tittle tattle and backstage gossip.
Childlike in ways, she giggles when you probe her, skips in front of the photographer when he tells her he wants more energy and pokes fun at herself when describing all that she's been through.
But then there's the other Lola. Extremely media savvy -- her guard comes up as soon as the tape recorder is switched on.
It's just over two years since the former stylist was forced to hand back the infamous cowboy hat and other items she collected while working on tour with U2 in the Eighties.
I find her sitting in the corner of the Westbury Hotel in Dublin-- where she took up residence during the 2006 court hearing.
Her appearance is understated; a plain black top and trousers, with a hint of colour in a leopard-print scarf tied neatly around her neck. She takes a sip of a gin and tonic as she provides an anomalous view of the entire experience.
"It may sound perverse but what a f***ing amazing experience. A year later, when it's all done and dusted, what an unbelievable experience I've had. Not one that I'd want to repeat but you just think 'My God'," she gasps.
It's certainly one way of putting it. Lola Cashman went from having one of the most coveted jobs in the styling business to being, as she puts it, utterly "wiped out".
After taking out loans to the tune of €350,000 to pay off court costs, she declared herself bankrupt, lost her home, her car, her reputation and, she says, was effectively "left with nothing". But, she adds, "There was something quite humbling about it."
She has few regrets. "I feel incredibly proud of myself; if I walked away and didn't fight, I would have looked like a liar and a thief. I was between a rock and a hard place. I would have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro [even though] I was told time and time again that I would never win this case."
She hasn't been in contact with Bono in years. Having gone from what she describes as his "confidant", "a shoulder to cry on" and "a mommy" figure to the Irish rocker, she says he avoided eye contact throughout the trial.
But she is philosophical. "I don't feel any animosity. To me, I was fighting corporate U2," she says.
Erupting in giggles, she tells me how after the case, she was shopping in Dublin when she strolled into a toy shop in the Westbury Mall. "I was just standing there looking at the toys and who comes in only Ali [Hewson]," she says. "We just looked at each other and she gave a slight nod and walked out. I was like 'Oh my God!',"she cringes.
You have to remember that this was a woman who stayed in the couple's home in Killiney, who was brought into their inner circle, who was privy to the band's most intimate moments at the height of their career -- and who then went on to sell a tell-all book. An extraordinary mistake in the tight-knit U2 family.
But she insists, "I was brought up with a sense of loyalty. I never set out to diss U2. I did not want to be deemed another rock-n-roll kiss 'n' tell."
On her official website -- complete with pictures of Cashman donning a Stetson hat -- she describes how the biography came about when "her trusted financial advisor absconded with her life savings while she was out of the country".
"Not being one to crumble in the face of a crisis," she explains how she "just looked for a way to pay her mortgage
and came up with the idea of writing a book" dealing with her experience of working with a wide range of celebrity clients. But, she says, she "cried and cried" when she realised that the publishers had changed the name and the entire focus to U2.
"My biggest crime was that I wanted my book published," she claims. "They [the publishers] focused on the U2 thing because they needed to sell books and this would do it." In the end, however, she says, "I could live with it, because your ego wants to have it published."
Looking back, she describes her relationship with the band as being "like a mommy with four little kids. You understand their quirks and their peccadilloes."
"We were this close little family. If you pull up somebody's pants or lay their underwear out; you can't do that unless you have a rapport with somebody. Or if you're going shopping and they want their favourite aftershave," she explains.
Although she insists she bears no grudge, she has a lot to say about U2's "crafted" image, which, she believes, boils down to one thing -- dollar signs.Even two decades ago, she says the band stood out from other groups with their focus on making money.
During the Rattle and Hum tour, she describes how people within the U2 camp used to nickname sound check "money check".
"It was very apparent from the day I met them that money was very significant. They took the corporate and business side incredibly serious. So serious that they would have business meetings at sound checks, which is unheard of in that scenario.
"They would be suited and booted and sitting there discussing corporate U2, way back, 20 years ago. Talking about their business and building the empire," she says.
She tells me that when the court battle was over, "I walked away, I licked my wounds, I dusted myself off and I started again."
As she surveyed the wreckage of her battle against the biggest rock band in the world, having been "frozen out of [her] field of work", help came from the most unlikely of places -- U2's homeland.
An Irish businessman who followed the trial contacted her through the media and offered her finance to help start a new business, 'The White Shirt Company'. The shirts are made from luxury Egyptian cotton and sell in a number of stores, including Liberties in London. The company now sells its shirts to heads of state, corporate directors and even rock stars.
Irish artist Kevin Sharkey also presented her with a melodramatic painting of her being crucified by the four members of U2. This was auctioned off for £18,000 -- which went towards helping her to "clear out creditors".
And she says she received private messages of support from a number of high-profile celebrities and business people. "If I cried any tears," she says, it was reading the messages from supporters.
These days, the stylist says she is "still scraping by" but insists she is not motivated by money.
"I now have rented accommodation. I don't have a car. But none of that matters. I think if I have any gripe it's that it's impossible to get my teeth done," she laughs. "I think 'oh, all that f***ing money I spent on that court case when I could have fixed my teeth'. Stress wore them away. I was clenching and it did damage to the jaw and so if I have any gripe, it's that."
She may have spent years 'clenching' her teeth over U2 but she says she's come to the stage, where --apart from this interview -- she won't give them any more of her time.
"They've had seven or eight years of my life, they won't get a day more," she insists.
Down at Windmill Lane, the recording studio made famous by the band, Lola poses for a photograph beside the legendary shrine of graffiti. She points to a message on the wall from a fan pleading with the band to call them. "Oh, oh, here, I'll stand beside this," she calls to the photographer. "Give me a phone call, Bono," she shouts playfully.
That'll be the day.
From independent.ie
How Lola has survived after battle with U2
The band's former stylist says that she was 'left with nothing' after losing the court case, writes Niamh Horan
Sunday January 25 2009
It's hard to know what to make of Lola Cashman. In one breath the woman- who took on the might of U2 can leap from shy guardian of her principles to spouting tittle tattle and backstage gossip.
Childlike in ways, she giggles when you probe her, skips in front of the photographer when he tells her he wants more energy and pokes fun at herself when describing all that she's been through.
But then there's the other Lola. Extremely media savvy -- her guard comes up as soon as the tape recorder is switched on.
It's just over two years since the former stylist was forced to hand back the infamous cowboy hat and other items she collected while working on tour with U2 in the Eighties.
I find her sitting in the corner of the Westbury Hotel in Dublin-- where she took up residence during the 2006 court hearing.
Her appearance is understated; a plain black top and trousers, with a hint of colour in a leopard-print scarf tied neatly around her neck. She takes a sip of a gin and tonic as she provides an anomalous view of the entire experience.
"It may sound perverse but what a f***ing amazing experience. A year later, when it's all done and dusted, what an unbelievable experience I've had. Not one that I'd want to repeat but you just think 'My God'," she gasps.
It's certainly one way of putting it. Lola Cashman went from having one of the most coveted jobs in the styling business to being, as she puts it, utterly "wiped out".
After taking out loans to the tune of €350,000 to pay off court costs, she declared herself bankrupt, lost her home, her car, her reputation and, she says, was effectively "left with nothing". But, she adds, "There was something quite humbling about it."
She has few regrets. "I feel incredibly proud of myself; if I walked away and didn't fight, I would have looked like a liar and a thief. I was between a rock and a hard place. I would have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro [even though] I was told time and time again that I would never win this case."
She hasn't been in contact with Bono in years. Having gone from what she describes as his "confidant", "a shoulder to cry on" and "a mommy" figure to the Irish rocker, she says he avoided eye contact throughout the trial.
But she is philosophical. "I don't feel any animosity. To me, I was fighting corporate U2," she says.
Erupting in giggles, she tells me how after the case, she was shopping in Dublin when she strolled into a toy shop in the Westbury Mall. "I was just standing there looking at the toys and who comes in only Ali [Hewson]," she says. "We just looked at each other and she gave a slight nod and walked out. I was like 'Oh my God!',"she cringes.
You have to remember that this was a woman who stayed in the couple's home in Killiney, who was brought into their inner circle, who was privy to the band's most intimate moments at the height of their career -- and who then went on to sell a tell-all book. An extraordinary mistake in the tight-knit U2 family.
But she insists, "I was brought up with a sense of loyalty. I never set out to diss U2. I did not want to be deemed another rock-n-roll kiss 'n' tell."
On her official website -- complete with pictures of Cashman donning a Stetson hat -- she describes how the biography came about when "her trusted financial advisor absconded with her life savings while she was out of the country".
"Not being one to crumble in the face of a crisis," she explains how she "just looked for a way to pay her mortgage
and came up with the idea of writing a book" dealing with her experience of working with a wide range of celebrity clients. But, she says, she "cried and cried" when she realised that the publishers had changed the name and the entire focus to U2.
"My biggest crime was that I wanted my book published," she claims. "They [the publishers] focused on the U2 thing because they needed to sell books and this would do it." In the end, however, she says, "I could live with it, because your ego wants to have it published."
Looking back, she describes her relationship with the band as being "like a mommy with four little kids. You understand their quirks and their peccadilloes."
"We were this close little family. If you pull up somebody's pants or lay their underwear out; you can't do that unless you have a rapport with somebody. Or if you're going shopping and they want their favourite aftershave," she explains.
Although she insists she bears no grudge, she has a lot to say about U2's "crafted" image, which, she believes, boils down to one thing -- dollar signs.Even two decades ago, she says the band stood out from other groups with their focus on making money.
During the Rattle and Hum tour, she describes how people within the U2 camp used to nickname sound check "money check".
"It was very apparent from the day I met them that money was very significant. They took the corporate and business side incredibly serious. So serious that they would have business meetings at sound checks, which is unheard of in that scenario.
"They would be suited and booted and sitting there discussing corporate U2, way back, 20 years ago. Talking about their business and building the empire," she says.
She tells me that when the court battle was over, "I walked away, I licked my wounds, I dusted myself off and I started again."
As she surveyed the wreckage of her battle against the biggest rock band in the world, having been "frozen out of [her] field of work", help came from the most unlikely of places -- U2's homeland.
An Irish businessman who followed the trial contacted her through the media and offered her finance to help start a new business, 'The White Shirt Company'. The shirts are made from luxury Egyptian cotton and sell in a number of stores, including Liberties in London. The company now sells its shirts to heads of state, corporate directors and even rock stars.
Irish artist Kevin Sharkey also presented her with a melodramatic painting of her being crucified by the four members of U2. This was auctioned off for £18,000 -- which went towards helping her to "clear out creditors".
And she says she received private messages of support from a number of high-profile celebrities and business people. "If I cried any tears," she says, it was reading the messages from supporters.
These days, the stylist says she is "still scraping by" but insists she is not motivated by money.
"I now have rented accommodation. I don't have a car. But none of that matters. I think if I have any gripe it's that it's impossible to get my teeth done," she laughs. "I think 'oh, all that f***ing money I spent on that court case when I could have fixed my teeth'. Stress wore them away. I was clenching and it did damage to the jaw and so if I have any gripe, it's that."
She may have spent years 'clenching' her teeth over U2 but she says she's come to the stage, where --apart from this interview -- she won't give them any more of her time.
"They've had seven or eight years of my life, they won't get a day more," she insists.
Down at Windmill Lane, the recording studio made famous by the band, Lola poses for a photograph beside the legendary shrine of graffiti. She points to a message on the wall from a fan pleading with the band to call them. "Oh, oh, here, I'll stand beside this," she calls to the photographer. "Give me a phone call, Bono," she shouts playfully.
That'll be the day.
ShipOfFools
War Child
I honestly don't know enough about the situation to make a judgment.
phillyfan26
Blue Crack Supplier
- Joined
- May 7, 2006
- Messages
- 30,343
I think she's fucking delusional, all this "We were a family" bullshit.
rihannsu
Refugee
Just to set the record straight about the court cases.
1) When she tried to sell the stuff at auction at Christie's they contacted the band to verify authenticity which is normal procedure. The band's lawyers sent a letter stating that the items had not been given to Lola but had been stolen.
2) Lola then filed suit against the band in London for defamation of character. The band attempted to settle the suit but Lola threatened them with the tell all book.
3) In preparation for the London case U2 had to show that the items were stolen so as to disprove the defamation charge. This required them taking Lola to court in Ireland and having the court decide whether or not the items were stolen. Interesting side note, there were many, many polaroid photos that Lola had that the band had not asked for the return of but the judge ruled that the photos belonged to U2 because the camera and film had been purchased by the band.
So for all those who say the band should have just left her alone try to remember that they are just as entitled as anyone else to defend themselves in court and the Irish court case was a defense for the court case in London which was of course dropped when she lost the Irish case. But you never see that reported do you? I haven't been able to track it down again but at one point I had read an article which indicated that the band had tried to offer her a loan after the initial dust up over the auction but that she instead tried to blackmail them with the threats of the book. Also right after the appeal was decided in U2's favor she supposedly was going to do the real tell all with all the supposed sordid detail's that she had "magnanimously" left out of the first book. Tabloid companies were reportedly offering her millions of pounds for the story but strangely nothing ever appeared. She couldn't have had anything remotely supportable if even the rags weren't willing to buy her crap in the end. And anyone who thinks that U2 is powerfull enough to totally kill all tabloid stories should get real. If they had that kind of power Bono would truly be ruling the world and as much as it might seem that way at times it just isn't quite so.
Oh, I almost forgot, her original book was republished under a new title but pretty much disappeared off of Amazon in a heartbeat. She doesn't mention that in her little interview does she. Cashman is simply milking the "poor me, I've been squashed by the big bad corporation angle". The woman does not seem to understand why the band would not like her book. Get real. The truly sad thing to me is that apparently Lola very much rubbed people the wrong way in the U2 camp from the beginning an Bono was apparently the one who tried to be her friend and defend her yet he is the one she most betrayed.
Dana
1) When she tried to sell the stuff at auction at Christie's they contacted the band to verify authenticity which is normal procedure. The band's lawyers sent a letter stating that the items had not been given to Lola but had been stolen.
2) Lola then filed suit against the band in London for defamation of character. The band attempted to settle the suit but Lola threatened them with the tell all book.
3) In preparation for the London case U2 had to show that the items were stolen so as to disprove the defamation charge. This required them taking Lola to court in Ireland and having the court decide whether or not the items were stolen. Interesting side note, there were many, many polaroid photos that Lola had that the band had not asked for the return of but the judge ruled that the photos belonged to U2 because the camera and film had been purchased by the band.
So for all those who say the band should have just left her alone try to remember that they are just as entitled as anyone else to defend themselves in court and the Irish court case was a defense for the court case in London which was of course dropped when she lost the Irish case. But you never see that reported do you? I haven't been able to track it down again but at one point I had read an article which indicated that the band had tried to offer her a loan after the initial dust up over the auction but that she instead tried to blackmail them with the threats of the book. Also right after the appeal was decided in U2's favor she supposedly was going to do the real tell all with all the supposed sordid detail's that she had "magnanimously" left out of the first book. Tabloid companies were reportedly offering her millions of pounds for the story but strangely nothing ever appeared. She couldn't have had anything remotely supportable if even the rags weren't willing to buy her crap in the end. And anyone who thinks that U2 is powerfull enough to totally kill all tabloid stories should get real. If they had that kind of power Bono would truly be ruling the world and as much as it might seem that way at times it just isn't quite so.
Oh, I almost forgot, her original book was republished under a new title but pretty much disappeared off of Amazon in a heartbeat. She doesn't mention that in her little interview does she. Cashman is simply milking the "poor me, I've been squashed by the big bad corporation angle". The woman does not seem to understand why the band would not like her book. Get real. The truly sad thing to me is that apparently Lola very much rubbed people the wrong way in the U2 camp from the beginning an Bono was apparently the one who tried to be her friend and defend her yet he is the one she most betrayed.
Dana
The Sad Punk
Blue Crack Addict
Heh, her name has 'lol' in it.
Salome
you are what you is
lol, I don't think you'll ever lose an argument
buzzkill27
War Child
A.) They(U2) have always paid a shitload of taxes..they moved operations to the Netherlands in order pay less than a shitload of taxes
B.) The U2 tower was not U2's idea....they wanted to keep Hanover Quay studios and didn't want to move........U2 had no choice...a Dublin planning board told them they had to move and in return they would be given the top floor of an office tower for a recording studio...it's not "U2's Tower"
JCOSTER
ONE love, blood, life
I don't feel sorry for her...I still say she's a liar, liar. Not saying that all is untrue but I bet most is fabricated.
indra
ONE love, blood, life
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2004
- Messages
- 12,689
The shoe thing isn't as good as the members of U2 having physical fights about having the same underwear. Where's the fucking photos when you want'em?
Were they having these underwear fights in stilettos? Because I would pay big bucks for those photos. Ok, I don't actually have big bucks, but if I did....
johndarling
War Child
My opinion is that this woman has made her own destiny, oh, how much she cried when she discovered the editor wanted to focus on U2, she thought he was going to focus on her? Oh, come on, this woman is just trying to live on telling tales on U2, just like she does in the article: "money check", and of course some people will immediately think she always tells the truth, just becase the others are famous and rich and nobody has ever acused them of anything serious. I hope all this kind of people who want to make a life telling intimacies of celebrities should get this kind of result. The problem is that ther's always a tabloid, or a tv programme where to appear because some kind of public like this crap.[/quote]
Yeah, she cried and cried. I noticed that.
Yeah, she cried and cried. I noticed that.
johndarling
War Child
I wonder if the u2 defense used that : 'And besides, your honour, perhaps most damning of ALL, this woman's name has LOL in it!'
last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
johndarling, please learn to use the QUOTE tag correctly.
johndarling
War Child
Were they having these underwear fights in stilettos? Because I would pay big bucks for those photos. Ok, I don't actually have big bucks, but if I did....
Underwear fights in SEXY BOOTS. (I wouldn't pay big bucks either)
johndarling
War Child
last unicorn
Blue Crack Addict
^ Or it's confusing because it looks like you just repeat what someone else has already written. But well done in your last two posts.
johndarling
War Child
^ Or it's confusing because it looks like you just repeat what someone else has already written. But well done in your last two posts.
Thanks!
I actually post ALOT of things correctly I'll have you know.
Galeongirl
Galeonbroad
Best post of the thread.
BonoFox1
Blue Crack Supplier
^YUP!
And really for those who feel sorry for her you should start a LOLA FUND to help her out if you care that much, but I seriously think she is a nutcase. Just in her described behaviour in that recent interview, and by reading her worthless book! (which I only paid .25 cents at a flee market and bought out of courisoity and for the U2 pictures) Her book is CRAP just as her excuses were.
Matthew_Page2000
War Child
Not taking sides here. I'm just wondering why you guys are taking
everything she says at face value and assuming that U2 are lying?
It wouldn't have anything to do with your current discontent with U2's musical direction would it? Because that would be...sad.
Matthew_Page2000
War Child
U2 have never done anything like this before. I'm sure lots of people who have worked with the band have taken discarded items from them. Doesn't it make you at all curious why they've taken it all the way to court? Doesn't it make you at all curious that none of U2's other former employees (of which there have been thousands over the years) have made similar accusations? Isn't the burden of proof on this Lola woman and not U2?
Or are you just content to assume the worst when it comes to the band?
Matthew_Page2000
War Child
I love how so many people don't have their facts right and bitchThe bandBono for this. Coincidence that these people are also regular Bono bashers?
First things first, Bono did NOT sue her.
Lola Cashman wrote a book, that was not authorized by the band, and tried to sell stuff she took with her on the JT tour on Ebay.
U2 sent her a statement about the book, that they were not happy with it.
Lola cashman sued U2. That means, the WHOLE band, NOT BONO.
U2 won the lawsuit.
Lola had to return the items, but was not fined.
Obviously she now needs money so she tries to play her victim role of the big bad U2 beast again. Sadly it seems like some people actually fall for it.
It's not sad that people are falling for it. They WANT to fall for it. They don't like Bono. Oh, wait. That is sad.
Galeongirl
Galeonbroad
I think you observed that nicely.
But I don't think it's sad they don't like Bono. It's their own problem. I just wish people wouldn't retort to hate so easily.
MsPurrl
Blue Crack Supplier
"She may have spent years 'clenching' her teeth over U2 but she says she's come to the stage, where --apart from this interview -- she won't give them any more of her time.
"They've had seven or eight years of my life, they won't get a day more," she insists."
R-i-i-ight . . . then why is she dredging this up again, just now with the new album and tour coming up!
"They've had seven or eight years of my life, they won't get a day more," she insists."
R-i-i-ight . . . then why is she dredging this up again, just now with the new album and tour coming up!
U2Fanatic4ever
Blue Crack Addict
well, I for one, don't feel sorry for her.
johndarling
War Child
Apart from anything else, the 'I was their mommy', thing, kind of obviously trying to demean them, isn't she?
Is that the BEST she can do?!
huh
Is that the BEST she can do?!
huh
zuropa_fit
Blue Crack Addict
biff
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
man, the story about Bono and the stilettos was fuckin hilarious...
Hilarious, yes, but made somewhat less so by the fact that it couldn't possibly have been true.
She says he needed to wear women's stilettos because he was meeting Springsteen for the first time and wanted to appear taller than his hideously miniature self. The problem with this is a) the band had met Springsteen many times before this, and b) Bono had been wearing high heeled shoes and boots since he was a teenager. He wouldn't need to "borrow" some women's shoes.
OrARoundabout
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2007
- Messages
- 4,333
Everybody just lost in this situation
Similar threads
